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BOOTP and
Dynamic Host
Configuration
Protocol (DHCP)
Port Mirroring
Virtual LANs
(VLANs)
The ratio used by the switch in handling packets in the two queues is
adjustable. There are eight possible settings. The settings allow you to
adjust the level of importance given to tagged packets in the high
priority queue as compared to packets in the normal priority queue. The
lowest setting is 1 to 1, meaning that the switch will treat packets in both
the high and normal queues the same. The highest ratio is 12 to 1, where
the switch can handle up to 12 high priority packets before checking for
a normal priority packet.
If you are installing the switch in a TCP/IP network environment, you can
manually configure the IP parameters, such as the IP address and the
subnet mask using the Omega management interface, or you can have
the IP parameters configured automatically. The latter requires a BOOTP
or DHCP server on your network. The BOOTP or DHCP server will provide
the switch with the necessary IP configuration information.
The port mirroring feature allows you to unobtrusively monitor the
traffic being received and transmitted on a port on a switch by having
the traffic copied to another switch port. You can connect a network
analyzer to the port functioning as the mirror port to monitor the traffic
without impacting network performance or speed.
One of the principal methods for improving network performance is
through the use of VLANs. VLANs allow you to segment your network
through software management by creating subnetworks. The use of
VLANs allow you to group the workstations, servers, and other
networking equipment connected to your switches into logical
workgroups. These VLAN groupings can be based on similar data needs
or security requirements.
When networking devices, such as workstations and servers, are
grouped into a VLAN, data is exchanged between only those members
of the group. In more basic terms, just as switches separate collision
domains, VLANs separate broadcast domains.
Each VLAN constitutes one broadcast domain; therefore, frames are not
permitted to cross a VLAN boundary. This allows for several VLAN-based
broadcast domains to exist on the same switch.
Other advantages of VLANs include:
# You can group workstations logically or functionally, regardless of
their physical location on the network.
# You can change VLAN memberships anytime by software
configuration without moving the workstations physically, or
change group memberships by simply moving a cable from one
port to another.
AT-9006 Series Installation Guide
25
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